[pct-l] low point next Memorial Day or July 4?

[pcnst2001 at covad.net (pcnst2001@covad.net)]

August is the ideal month for most of the PCT north of Kennedy Meadows, but there
are some
parts that could be managed earlier, without all the travails of the High Sierra
in June, which
has no appeal at all to me.    I hate hiking for days with wet feet, much less weeks.

In particular, I am thinking of going from Road 60, just before Indian Heaven,
south 50 miles
to Cascade Locks and then another 40 miles to Ramona Falls, avoiding the Sandy
River ford
and mostly staying below 4500' and always staying below 5000'.

Since my memories of the area are fading after 25 years, I was wondering if the
locals
could advise on the feasibility of doing this at the end of May or in the
beginning of July.
I want to avoid nasty fords (I think Sandy River is the only one) and extended
snow travel
or tricky snow slopes.    I am resigned to vicious mosquitos any time before
Labor Day,
somewhere along this route, ranging as it does from 140' to 4400'.

Bridge of the Gods is the low point of the whole trail, in terms of elevation
(what is a 
CREST trail doing crossing a river anyway?)  but the hike up to Benson Plateau
is pretty direct as I recall, at least from the Columbia Work Center.    I never
went up
to Benson Plateau when I lived in Wilsonville, preferring Eagle Creek and Herman
Creek,
so will now do that part of the PCT that others spurn.